Listen up, guys! Here's how to banish ingrown hair

Aren’t ingrown hairs the worst? It’s like, hey man, come on – you know you have to go in the other direction, right? Go toward the light! Don’t head back into the follicle and cause an awkward situation with itchiness, swelling and general grossness. Which is obviously what you would say to an errant hair if it were sentient and willing to submit to a bit of a tongue-lashing.

In the absence of sentient facial hair, we thought we’d check in with Martie Olivier, beauty therapist, makeup artist and owner of The Beauty Room in Malmesbury, to find out how she helps her male clients to keep ingrown hairs at bay. 

Wash your face every day

“It's important to wash your face with a good cleanser and warm water every day,” says Martie. “This can be bolstered by the use of a scrub once every two days, or three times a week. Choose a scrub that is not too coarse but still quite granular. Experiment with different brands until you find one that you like.”

Use circular motions while you cleanse

“Using circular motions when you cleanse helps to clear away the dead skin cells that might otherwise clog your follicles and cause your hair to head back down inside,” explains Martie. “An old-school facecloth with a nice grain also works a treat in this regard.”

Treat yourself to a monthly deep-cleanse facial

“Not all men are partial to facials, but a monthly deep-cleanse facial can do wonders. It's great for the skin, and quite relaxing too,” says Martie.

Shave with a single blade

“Shaving with a single blade against the skin is another way to avoid ingrown hair by getting rid of dead skin cells while you neaten your appearance at the same time,” recommends Martie. “Alternatively, if you don't like the clean-shaven look you could opt to use an electrical trimmer to keep your beard tidy – this allows for a little length that lessens the odds of hair growing back into the follicle.”

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com